How would i update the database?

[HTsean]

3. You can manually insert all that info the old fashioned way: logging into the Admin and creating products. (the admin handles all the writing to the MySQL database)

[fairestcape]

3. You can manually insert all that info the old fashioned way: logging into the Admin and creating products.

Of course this is possible...

How many products are we talking about here?

Manually, each product could take up to 2 minutes to insert (depending on the length an format of product descriptions)

1000 products = 2000 minutes = 34 hours of solid work.

With Easy Populate, the same exercise would probably take no more than 2 or 3 hours = ten times faster.

[zaira]

thank you thank you! i will try all your advice.

[HTsean]

hehe yes I know.. but let's not forget zaira's experience level.

I hope I'm not sounding too anal about this, but I would actually discourage any 'newbies' from using easy populate until they have an understanding of at least how zencart's admin is manipulating the database.

[fairestcape]

hehe yes I know.. but let's not forget zaira's experience level.

I hope I'm not sounding too anal about this, but I would actually discourage any 'newbies' from using easy populate until they have an understanding of at least how zencart's admin is manipulating the database.

Good point...

... but if you follow schoolboy's WIKI, and make sure to do a small test run as he suggests, you should be able to cope.

... "a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step".

Of course an ideal situation is to have a TEST SITE installation where you can practice this without potentially damaging your operating shop.

Creating a test site is easy - and can be done in a sub-directory of the domain.

Everyone managing a zenshop should have a testing area...

[HTsean]

Well, on that note, then I'd like to share a little 'bug' I came across if you choose to use Excel to edit/create easy populate files:

If you have sku numbers that go something like: 0021

Then remember to have Excel save the sku number column as a 4 digit numeral, or it will save it as '21' and it will just create new products, in essence a copy of 0021 if a product with the sku number of 0021 is already in the database.

[fairestcape]

Well, on that note, then I'd like to share a little 'bug' I came across if you choose to use Excel to edit/create easy populate files:

If you have sku numbers that go something like: 0021

Then remember to have Excel save the sku number column as a 4 digit numeral, or it will save it as '21' and it will just create new products, in essence a copy of 0021 if a product with the sku number of 0021 is already in the database.

If the Excel column is formatted as NUMBER, this will happen (0024 will show as 24), but if you format the column as TEXT before values are entered, then you may prevent this from happening.... or escape the default by putting ' before 0024 ('0024)

[HTsean]

If the Excel column is formatted as NUMBER, this will happen (0024 will show as 24), but if you format the column as TEXT before values are entered, then you may prevent this from happening.... or escape the default by putting ' before 0024 ('0024)

This is very important information and should be included in the readme file in easypopulate. Thank you for the advice on the Excel settings.